Cryogenic hydrogen embrittlement of 316plus (EN 1.4420) stainless steel at 77 K and 20 K
Cryogenic hydrogen embrittlement of 316plus (EN 1.4420) stainless steel at 77 K and 20 K
This paper presents the first experimental characterisation of combined hydrogen–temperature effects in 316plus (EN 1.4420), a new austenitic stainless steel for liquid hydrogen (LH2) storage. Uniaxial tensile tests were conducted at room temperature (RT), 77 K and 20 K on uncharged and hydrogen-precharged specimens, complemented by fractography and EBSD-based quantification of strain-induced martensite (SIM). 316plus exhibited cryogenic strengthening at 77 K and 20 K by enhanced SIM formation. Hydrogen did not influence strength at RT or 77 K and caused a modest decrease (≈10%) at 20 K, keeping 316plus at the upper bound of cryogenic strength for 316L. The presence of hydrogen resulted in significant reductions in ductility at all temperatures, being most severe at 77 and 20 K (≈40%–50%). Hydrogen suppressed SIM at 20 K, but SIM fraction did not correlate with ductility reduction. Despite the combined effect of temperature and hydrogen, 316plus retained notable ductility (reduction in area ≈30%).
Li, W.
36e11743-d68a-45bc-a362-311415017cfd
Zafra, A.
f6b46df3-6364-49f7-8ecd-4948bee871ae
Amendariz, L.
adfd2bd9-4f9c-4830-890e-6f97ae82f8c2
Wang, Z.
794c41fe-f5da-4da4-8f1c-c7beb06f87eb
Bailey, W.
c356b2e3-a783-4b4c-8c7b-521696d3b37c
Martinez-Pañeda, E.
77bb7686-57a2-4e3f-9581-786acb9e2df3
Afshan, S.
68dcdcac-c2aa-4c09-951c-da4992e72086
13 May 2026
Li, W.
36e11743-d68a-45bc-a362-311415017cfd
Zafra, A.
f6b46df3-6364-49f7-8ecd-4948bee871ae
Amendariz, L.
adfd2bd9-4f9c-4830-890e-6f97ae82f8c2
Wang, Z.
794c41fe-f5da-4da4-8f1c-c7beb06f87eb
Bailey, W.
c356b2e3-a783-4b4c-8c7b-521696d3b37c
Martinez-Pañeda, E.
77bb7686-57a2-4e3f-9581-786acb9e2df3
Afshan, S.
68dcdcac-c2aa-4c09-951c-da4992e72086
Li, W., Zafra, A., Amendariz, L., Wang, Z., Bailey, W., Martinez-Pañeda, E. and Afshan, S.
(2026)
Cryogenic hydrogen embrittlement of 316plus (EN 1.4420) stainless steel at 77 K and 20 K.
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 233, [154974].
(doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.154974).
Abstract
This paper presents the first experimental characterisation of combined hydrogen–temperature effects in 316plus (EN 1.4420), a new austenitic stainless steel for liquid hydrogen (LH2) storage. Uniaxial tensile tests were conducted at room temperature (RT), 77 K and 20 K on uncharged and hydrogen-precharged specimens, complemented by fractography and EBSD-based quantification of strain-induced martensite (SIM). 316plus exhibited cryogenic strengthening at 77 K and 20 K by enhanced SIM formation. Hydrogen did not influence strength at RT or 77 K and caused a modest decrease (≈10%) at 20 K, keeping 316plus at the upper bound of cryogenic strength for 316L. The presence of hydrogen resulted in significant reductions in ductility at all temperatures, being most severe at 77 and 20 K (≈40%–50%). Hydrogen suppressed SIM at 20 K, but SIM fraction did not correlate with ductility reduction. Despite the combined effect of temperature and hydrogen, 316plus retained notable ductility (reduction in area ≈30%).
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Li et al. 2026_International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
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Accepted/In Press date: 9 April 2026
e-pub ahead of print date: 18 April 2026
Published date: 13 May 2026
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Local EPrints ID: 512035
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/512035
ISSN: 0360-3199
PURE UUID: 3bf68188-5040-45ec-9275-9d5ce222e0ac
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Date deposited: 15 Jun 2026 13:52
Last modified: 16 Jun 2026 02:06
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Author:
W. Li
Author:
A. Zafra
Author:
L. Amendariz
Author:
Z. Wang
Author:
E. Martinez-Pañeda
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